This Weekend: Bus shuttles replace Blue/Expo Line in DTLA due to upgrade work

Bus shuttles will replace the Blue Line between Washington and 7th St/Metro Center, and the Expo Line between LATTC/Ortho and 7th St/Metro Center, beginning 9 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 23 through close of service Sunday, Sept.25.

The closure of tracks will allow crews to perform electrical track maintenance and upgrade tile and landscaping between Pico and San Pedro Stations.

Supplementary service during the closure will include a combination of express and local bus shuttles.

Blue Line customers traveling between downtown L.A. and Washington should use the local shuttles making stops between Washington, San Pedro, Grand/LATTC, Pico and 7th St/Metro Center. Express shuttles will provide non-stop service between Washington and 7th St/Metro Center.

Expo Line customers will use local shuttles making stops at LATTC/Ortho, Pico and 7th St/Metro Center. To transfer between Blue and Expo, connect with shuttles traveling between Washington and LATTC/Ortho.

Destinations will be displayed on all local bus head signs. Express buses traveling directly between Washington and 7th St/Metro Center (with no stops in between) will display an “Express” head sign. Both express and local bus shuttles will match Blue and Expo Line service as best as possible throughout the weekend. However, customers are advised to allow extra time to reach their destination. Some may want to use the Metro Green Line and Silver Line as an alternate route between downtown L.A. and south L.A.

While the work occurs, Blue and Expo Line service levels will be as follows:

Friday, Sept. 23 after 9 p.m.: Blue Line trains between Washington and Long Beach are scheduled to run every 20 minutes. The last complete northbound trips depart Long Beach at approximately 6:48, 7, 7:12, 7:24 and 7:42 p.m. The last complete southbound trips depart 7th St/Metro Center at approximately 7:46, 7:59, 8:11 and 8:30 p.m.

Expo Line trains between LATTC/Ortho and Downtown Santa Monica are scheduled to run every 20 minutes after 9 p.m. The last complete westbound trips depart 7th/Metro at approximately 8:04, 8:14, 8:23 and 8:33 p.m. The last complete eastbound trips depart Downtown Santa Monica at approximately 7:06, 7:18, 7:30, 7:42 and 7:56 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24 & Sept. 25: Both Blue and Expo Line trains will run every 12 minutes through the day and every 20 minutes in the evening. Normal service is scheduled to resume Monday morning.

Finally, we’d like to say thank you to all affected customers for their patience and understanding as we work to enhance the Blue and Expo Line service for years to come. Metro personnel will be on hand and happy to assist while the closure is in effect. To stay up-to-date with the progress of our projects, check back here on The Source or at metro.net/projects. For real-time service updates, follow us on Twitter @metrolosangeles or @metrolaalerts.